Tobacco-stick



G. T. SULLIVAN.

TOBACCO STICK.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

l FILE D SEPT-27. 1918.

A TTOR/VEYS WIT/ 5885; &

cnonen T. SULLIVAN, or KIivsToN, non'rn cAnoLnva.

TOBACCO-STICK.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn T. SULLrvAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Kinston, county of Lenoir, and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tobacco sticks, and it consists substantially of the construction and arrangement herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a tobacco stick of a simple construction thereby enabling the consequently, expeditious fastening of the tobacco leaves in place in the stick, the construction being such that the leaves will be retained under all circumstances through the final curing stage.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the tobacco sticks on the tier poles;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the parts of the stick separated;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one end of the stick;

Fig. 4: is a plan view of each of the companion bars, illustrating more especially the arrangement of the spikes; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a slight modification hereinafter described.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an upper bar 1 and a lower bar 2. The upper bar has a great number of spikes 3 fastened therein, and these spikes are arranged in a diagonal formation substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4:.

The lower bar 2 also has a great number of spikes 4: arranged similarly to the spikes in the upper bar. But the spikes in the lower bar are driven or fastened in such a manner that when the two bars are clamped together asshown in Fig. 3, the spaces between the spikes will be very close.

This feature can be readily understood by I referring to the arrows at in Figs. 2 and 4.

In practice, the spikes in each longitudinal row are driven one inch apart. The companion row of spikes on the same bar are also. driven one inch apart, but are started just half way between the first row of spikes. In driving the two rows of spikes in the other bar, the spacing is arranged so that the spikes in one row come just'between the Specification of Letters Patent. P t ted N 25, 1919,

Application filed. September 27,1918. Serial No. 255,940.

lateral space between the spikes of the first bar. This is well illustratedin Fig. 4:, and the result is that the-lateral spaces between the spikes are i inch.

In practice one of the sticks is laid down and many leaves are pressed on as the spikes will hold. It is not necessary to impale each individual stem but simply to lay the leaves across and press down until the points come through. The spikes thus act as gages, showing the operatorwhen they are full. The close spacing of the spikes makes is impossible for the leaves to dropofi' in drying, and by this means it is made possible to evenly distribute the leaves.

A clamp ring 5 is slipped over each end of the stick when all of the tobacco leaves L are pressed in place between the bars 1 and 2. The rings 5 are made of any suitable resilient material, and preferably consis't of coil springs formed in the shape of a circle.

Aspring clamp 6 is fitted in the middle of the tobacco stick to prevent the bars from separating. After the leaves are all in place and the clamp rings 5 and 6 are fitted on the stick, the tobacco stick is laid on the tier poles P of the drying house. It is to be observed that the clamp rings 5 act as abutments preventing the tobacco stick from readily slipping off of the tier poles.

The modification in Fig. 5 consists simply of a channel iron 7 with prongs or spikes 8 stamped up therefrom. The companion bar or channel iron will be made in the same way, takingthe relative spacing arrangement of the spikes as illustrated in Fig. 4: into consideration. It is thought unnecessary to explain in detail all of the attendant operations of aflixing the tobacco leaves to the stick, but it should be explained that being laid on the spikes of one bar and between spikes, of the other bar thusfurther.

impaling the leaves when the bars are fitted together and preventing the leaves from dropping out in curing; and neans for clamping the bars together.

2. A tobacco stick', eomprising a pair of bars, a plurality of spikes carried by each bar in staggered: formation and arranged to dispose the spikes of one bar in'the center placed thereon. t. V GEORGE T. SULLIVAN. 1

of the lateral spaces between the ispikesof the other bar hen'fitted: together, to secure a close lateral spacing between the spikes when said bars are fitted togetheronthe toibae'oo, leaves, thus preventing the loosening and falling out of the leaves by shrinkage in curing; a central spring elamp preventing the bars fromisep'arating in the middle,

and end resilient clamp rings holding the ends of the stlck together and acting as abutmentsagains't the tier poles When'the stick is 

